Frank Trelawny Arthur Ashton-GwatkinCBCMG (14 April 1889 – 30 January 1976) was a British diplomat and Foreign Office official. He was a significant influence on the British foreign policy in the Far East in the early 20th century.[1] He also published a number of novels and other works under the pseudonym John Paris.
In 1915 he married Nancy Violet Butler (d. 1953), of Melbourne, Australia.[citation needed]
After several years in the Consular Service in East Asia, where he acquired a good knowledge of Japanese, Ashton-Gwatkin joined the Far Eastern Department of the Foreign Office in 1919, transferring to the Diplomatic Service in 1921. In 1929, he was sent to the Soviet Union to work at the British Embassy in Moscow, but returned after a year to be secretary of the Anglo-Soviet Debt Committee under Lord Goschen.[1]
He participated in several international conferences, including the Imperial Economic Conference in Ottawa in 1932 and the World Economic Conference in London the following year.[1] As a result of his interest in economic affairs, he was instrumental in establishing the Economic Relations Section in the Foreign Office, focused on co-ordinating British diplomatic and economic policies, becoming its first head in 1934.[2] In the late summer of 1938, he served as Chief of Staff on the Runciman Mission to Czechoslovakia and was a member of the British delegation at the subsequent Munich Conference.[3]
During the 1930s, Ashton-Gwatkin was a staunch advocate of the policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany. Although he later revised his views, Ashton-Gwatkin's political outlook at that time is encapsulated by his expressed hope - in the immediate aftermath of the Munich Agreement in 1938 - of “an Anglo-German policy of economic co-operation” flourishing within a German-dominated East Central Europe.[4]
Ashton-Gwatkin's literary work, published under the name of John Paris, reflected his period of residence in Japan and included the novels Kimono (1921), Sayonara (1924), Banzai! (1925), The Island beyond Japan (1929), Matsu (1932) and a collection of verses A Japanese Don Juan and other Poems (1926). The novels were noted for their realistic portrayal of life in East Asia. Previously, whilst an undergraduate at Oxford, he was awarded the 1909 Newdigate Prize for a poem entitled Michelangelo.
References
^ abcd"Mr. Frank Ashton-Gwatkin: A Notable Diplomat". The Times. 31 January 1976. p. 14.
^Boadle, D.G. “The Formation of the Foreign Office Economic Relations Section”, Historical Journal, vol. 20, 1977, pp. 919-36.
^Vyšný, Paul, The Runciman Mission to Czechoslovakia, 1938: Prelude to Munich, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire, 2003, pp. 128-9, 324.
^"Notes on Germany and Central Europe", memorandum by Ashton-Gwatkin, 27 October 1938, C 13864/772/18, FO371/21705, National Archives, London.
February 26, 2023
frank, ashton, gwatkin, frank, trelawny, arthur, ashton, gwatkin, april, 1889, january, 1976, british, diplomat, foreign, office, official, significant, influence, british, foreign, policy, east, early, 20th, century, also, published, number, novels, other, wo. Frank Trelawny Arthur Ashton Gwatkin CB CMG 14 April 1889 30 January 1976 was a British diplomat and Foreign Office official He was a significant influence on the British foreign policy in the Far East in the early 20th century 1 He also published a number of novels and other works under the pseudonym John Paris Ashton Gwatkin was educated at Eton College and Balliol College Oxford 1 In 1915 he married Nancy Violet Butler d 1953 of Melbourne Australia citation needed After several years in the Consular Service in East Asia where he acquired a good knowledge of Japanese Ashton Gwatkin joined the Far Eastern Department of the Foreign Office in 1919 transferring to the Diplomatic Service in 1921 In 1929 he was sent to the Soviet Union to work at the British Embassy in Moscow but returned after a year to be secretary of the Anglo Soviet Debt Committee under Lord Goschen 1 He participated in several international conferences including the Imperial Economic Conference in Ottawa in 1932 and the World Economic Conference in London the following year 1 As a result of his interest in economic affairs he was instrumental in establishing the Economic Relations Section in the Foreign Office focused on co ordinating British diplomatic and economic policies becoming its first head in 1934 2 In the late summer of 1938 he served as Chief of Staff on the Runciman Mission to Czechoslovakia and was a member of the British delegation at the subsequent Munich Conference 3 During the 1930s Ashton Gwatkin was a staunch advocate of the policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany Although he later revised his views Ashton Gwatkin s political outlook at that time is encapsulated by his expressed hope in the immediate aftermath of the Munich Agreement in 1938 of an Anglo German policy of economic co operation flourishing within a German dominated East Central Europe 4 Ashton Gwatkin s literary work published under the name of John Paris reflected his period of residence in Japan and included the novels Kimono 1921 Sayonara 1924 Banzai 1925 The Island beyond Japan 1929 Matsu 1932 and a collection of verses A Japanese Don Juan and other Poems 1926 The novels were noted for their realistic portrayal of life in East Asia Previously whilst an undergraduate at Oxford he was awarded the 1909 Newdigate Prize for a poem entitled Michelangelo References Edit a b c d Mr Frank Ashton Gwatkin A Notable Diplomat The Times 31 January 1976 p 14 Boadle D G The Formation of the Foreign Office Economic Relations Section Historical Journal vol 20 1977 pp 919 36 Vysny Paul The Runciman Mission to Czechoslovakia 1938 Prelude to Munich Palgrave Macmillan Basingstoke Hampshire 2003 pp 128 9 324 Notes on Germany and Central Europe memorandum by Ashton Gwatkin 27 October 1938 C 13864 772 18 FO371 21705 National Archives London Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Ashton Gwatkin amp oldid 1140279362, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
